From: Sent: To: Fred Deutsch 8/29/2019 4:12:53 PM "Mike Laidlaw" <mike@drlaidlaw.com>, "William Malone" <malone.will@gmail.com>, "vbroyles@childparentrights.org" <vbroyles@childparentrights.org>, "Mary McAlister" <mmcalister@childparentrights.org>, "Matt Sharp" <msharp@adflegal.org>, "drmcretella@gmail.com" <drmcretella@gmail.com>, "James Shupe (Formerly Jamie Shupe)" <jamie.shupe@yahoo.com>, "Matt Sharp" <msharp@adflegal.org>, "Pamosa27" <pamosa27@comcast.net>, "Patrick Lappert" <patrick@lappertplasticsurgery.com> Cc: Subject: Transgender petition Attachments: Gender Change Petition etc - Judge Powers case.pdf One of our state’s local newspapers ran a legal notice today to change the name and “gender-marker†of a minor. Since there is no statutory authority to change a gender-marker (the term is foreign to the legislature and to me – I had to Google it), a trip to the courthouse found the petition. See attached. Of note: • The petition asked that no public notice be given. • The judge has already ordered a name change; he believed notice of hearing was necessary before considering the proposed "gender marker" change. • Petitioners are pro se. But according to FB, Petitioner is an attorney. Petitioners are a divorced lesbian couple. One is biologic mom, other is adoptive parent. Biologic dad had rights terminated in earlier adoption proceeding. • The petition relies upon SDCL 21-37-5 which governs name changes. There is no separate authority cited for the gender change. • This is a 13 year old child (will be 14 in two months). The child’s Sioux Falls doctor plans to begin him on “gender confirming hormones.†One of the challenges in bringing a bill like we are attempting is to show legislators these problems occur in our state. Introducing this document into the hearing will help show legislators we’re not just blowing smoke. Good strategic find, I think. – Fred Attachment: